More than 170 rapists reoffend after prison

MORE than 170 rapists who were let out of prison have gone on to attack again in the past five years.

More than 170 rapists have gone on to attack again after they have been released from prison [GETTY]

Despite these shocking statistics, government figures also show that more than 50 per cent of convicted ­rapists are being allowed out after serving just half their sentence.

In the past five years a total of 171 people convicted of rape already had a similar conviction on their records. Over the same period 579 rapists had already been convicted of some other kind of sex attack.

It means around a dozen people every month fall prey to rapists who have already been found guilty of rape or another sexual offence.

A further breakdown of the statistics reveals most of the 1,180 rapists convicted last year had previous criminal convictions, 342 of them for an old rape, sexual attack or violent assault.

Separate figures from the Ministry of Justice show a record 366 of the 644 rapists freed in 2013 had served just half their sentence.

Peter Cuthbertson, director of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: “These are staggering figures. The combination of short sentences and early release for rapists means hundreds of extra victims.

Every time a rapist is released and goes on to attack another woman it is a crime that could have been prevented

Peter Cuthbertson, Centre for Crime Prevention

“Every time a rapist is released and goes on to attack another woman it is a crime that could have been prevented.”

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the Government was scrapping automatic early release for child rapists and other dangerous offenders, banning the use of cautions for serious offences and had made life sentences mandatory for anyone who commits a second very serious sexual or violent offence.

He said: “Sex offenders on licence are subject to strict conditions, including exclusion zones, non-contact orders and sex offender treatment programmes. They will also be put on the sex offenders’ register.

“If they fail to comply with these conditions or their behaviour gives cause for concern they can expect to be recalled to prison.”

Repeat rapists include Paul Atta, 43, who was jailed for life in 2011 for raping a student at knifepoint after breaking into her Manchester hall of residence.